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Chauvet Professional brings new life To Unity Works

The lighting arrangement has the versatility to handle the wide array of performances, from rock to stand up to theatre

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Unity Works is aptly named. A grass roots initiative started by a community that came together with a shared goal in mind has given this historic building a new lease on live. This rebirth is reflected in the structure's cutting edge fittings, including its lighting system, which features the new Rogue R2 Spot moving LED spot and an extensive collection of other technologically advanced fixtures from Chauvet Professional.

Well known in an earlier time as Unity Hall, the stately building is a Grade II listed Victorian landmark with all the installation challenges to match. The community based Unity House (Wakefield) Ltd. venture managed to find £200,000 in private capital to begin getting the old pile back on its rocking feet - a benchmark that then enabled the successfu

Join in with D1 and only – at the Sennheiser stand in Hall 5.0, Stand C40

Prolight+Sound 2015: Sennheiser launches D1 microphone system

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - For Sennheiser, Musikmesse is all about the European launch of the evolution wireless D1 microphone series. The digital systems are totally self-configuring and have both intelligent frequency management and automatic sensitivity adjustment.

"We are really looking forward to our new location at Musikmesse," declares Ingo Angres, marketing manager of live performance and MI at Sennheiser. "The move to Hall 5 brings Sennheiser closer to the users, the music and the stage, and this is also reflected in the new stand design."

A visit to the evolution garage, a stint with the product specialists to talk shop, or a chat at the Sennheiser bar - all this is possible at the Sennheiser stand. A large "information pool" at the centre of the stand provides virtual access to all the necessary background information on the subjects of music and Sennhe

Touchscreen Microphone provides full control of a VIGIL voice alarm system

Prolight+Sound 2015 - Baldwin Boxall previews VIGIL3

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - Baldwin Boxall will be on stand E39 in Hall 8 (with Laauser & Vohl) at this year's Prolight+Sound show.

Visitors to the stand will be able to preview VIGIL3 (Baldwin Boxall's next generation voice alarm system), see demonstrations of the new remote monitoring interface for VIGIL2 voice alarm systems and the forthcoming touchscreen microphone.

The forthcoming VIGIL3 will have many new features and advantages compared to other systems on the market today. The new VIGIL3 will include an Ethernet backbone with IP interfacing for simplicity and will be built for complete reliability and longevity - qualities that customers have come to expect from this UK manufacturer. VIGIL3 will be modular in format with various options available with regard to configuration and programming methods for the engineer and end user. The system will have the ability to include abundant input

ETC Halcyon Silent

High End Systems Halcyon Silent builds on ETC’s legacy of fanless automated fixtures by incorporating features from the highly sought-after Halcyon family. Halcyon Silent perfectly balances silent operation with brilliant output of 18,400 lumens and high-impact features.

For more information visit us at www.etcconnect.com

Panalux expands and relocates

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Panalux, a leading provider of lighting rental equipment for film, television and media production, recently announced that the company's Broadcast & Event division, Engineering and Product Development departments will be consolidated in a customised facility in Perivale. Allowing for greater operational flexibility, the 48,000sq.ft warehouse and offices located in the Perivale Park can accommodate a greater number of projects and allow future business expansion.

"Panalux Broadcast & Event have experienced consistent growth over the past years; as a result, we've outgrown our current location," explains Ed Pagett, Panalux Broadcast & Event managing director. "We're looking forward to settling into our new building, which will provide our different teams with the space they need to continue to expand on our services."

In the move, Panalux Engineering an

Broadsword Production Group wins Science Museum contract

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - After a competitive tender process The Broadsword Production Group is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a three-year contract to The Science Museum as a production supplier. With a diverse range of interactive galleries, located in the heart of South Kensington, the award-winning Science Museum offers a wow-factor backdrop for corporate events.

Matt Green, Broadsword's Sales Director, led the tender process and is excited about the opportunities at The Science Museum. He explains: "It is a bespoke venue, visually stunning, with a unique mix of the modern and traditional. Here at Broadsword, we offer the perfect mix of flexibility and innovation; the ability to design and adapt production solutions so that they work within unique environments. The Science Museum is definitely a space where we will be able to find new and interesting ways to stand out from t

The stage and set design for the main plenary session of the major two day conference was originated by MGGs Denzil Smith (photo: Louise Stickland)

MGG relies on Robe for massive corporate show

Details: 14 March 2016

South Africa - Rental company MGG supplied over 200 Robe moving lights for a recent indaba at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg for a high profile financial industry client.

LD Kevin Rieck made the bold move of using front and back rigged Robe LEDWash 600s for all his key lighting, following a great success with this methodology during a press conference by US President Barak Obama in Soweto last year, which he also lit. He also seized the occasion to use four of Robe's new BMFL Spots for the first time.

The stage and set design for the main plenary session of the major two day conference was originated by MGGs Denzil Smith - who also project managed and co-ordinated all things technical. The overall room aesthetic was based around an 80m widescreen projection that brought a dramatic filmic ambience to the setting, staged 'side-on' across the room.

Kevin Rieck has li

Behind the Scenes UK issues first grant

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Behind the Scenes UK, the new industry charity, has just issued its first grant to a technician who suffered severe injuries from a fall while at work. Dealing with multiple surgeries and a long recovery process was hard enough, but trying to take care of his young family with no income during this critical time proved overwhelming. Then someone suggested he apply to Behind the Scenes UK.

Behind the Scenes UK is modelled after Behind the Scenes in North America which has issued over half a million dollars in grants since its inception. Each application is carefully reviewed by a committee and each grant is tailored to assist with the recipient's most pressing needs. Funds may be used for basic living expenses such as rent or mortgage and utilities, transportation such as car insurance or repairs, medical related expenses, retraining, or funeral expenses.

In this particula

Strictly FX Highlights

Strictly FX was founded in 1996 by industry veterans Mark Grega and Ted Maccabee. Our expertise and knowledge of the world’s leading pyrotechnic, laser, and flame manufacturers allows us to curate astonishing live events. With over 500+ shows performed a year, there’s good chance you’ve seen some of our work!

Eurotruss will be displaying its four main product groups: Structures, Stages, Lifters & Stage Decks

Prolight+Sound 2015: Eurotruss covers all areas

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - Netherlands-based manufacturer and supplier of truss constructions, stages and complete event hardware, Eurotruss displayed its four main product groups: structures, stages, lifters and stage decks. In terms of structures, Eurotruss showed its upgraded Pre Rig Truss (PRT), the new Ladder Beam truss HD22 and the reinforced Mega Truss Series TTU and TTS.Next to that the brand new Eurotruss Lifters range (wind up stands) will be presented.

Within the product group the new Tunnel Roof series will be featured along with the PR15 Monster Roof. A special spot is reserved to display the fully integrated stage frame (Ballast Safe) that integrates towers in steel scaffolding stages. The established Eurotruss Stage Decks will also be present.

(Jim Evans)

Widespread Panic has returned to the road for a 25 date spring tour (photo: Andy Tennille)

Widespread Panic on the road with Bandit Lites

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Following Widespread Panic's larger-than-life New Year's Eve performance, the rock band has returned to the road for a 25 date spring tour. On the road with them is long time lighting designer Paul Hoffman, who again trusted Bandit Lites to provide the gear for his exceedingly mind-blowing psychedelic looks.

Due to the wide ranges of venues that Widespread Panic plays, Hoffman is always conscientious of designing a flexible rig that can be utilized in both tiny theatres and expansive arenas.

"We want to use as much of the production every night as we can - so that is a significant design goal," explained Hoffman. "It has to expand and contract without looking sparse or scrunched."

For design inspiration, Hoffman says he tends to look at his surroundings, from architecture, to sculpture and art. The result is an evolution from tour to tour, rather th

Return to the Forbidden Planet</I> is currently making its way around the UK (photo: Nobby Clark)

Forbidden Planet returns with Flare

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The 25th anniversary tour of Return to the Forbidden Planet is currently making its way around the UK, complete with a Flare Audio loudspeaker system, representing the first major touring musical production to deploy the recently launched X2A Compact Vertical Point Source Array system. Along with the X2, the show's system also carries Flare Audio's Q18 subs and the micro X0s for delay and front fill duties.

Flare Audio's polished aluminium speakers are an aesthetic match to the cult musical's 1950s sci-fi theme, and with Ben Harrison's new sound design, the combined effect is meteoric. He has been impressed with the X2's overall performance, explaining:

"Their size and profile mean they slot easily into traditional proscenium rigging positions where other traditional line array systems would struggle to fit. They perform very well, and so far have proved to be

Randy Read - specifications sales manager for lighting

ARRI adds sales manager for lighting

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - ARRI Inc has announced the hiring of Randy Read as specifications sales manager for lighting, reporting to John Gresch, vice president, lighting products. Read's primary focus will involve building and managing a network of representatives to support the design and installation of ARRI's renowned lighting products in educational and broadcast television studios. His initial territorial coverage is North America.

Read comes to ARRI with over 20 years of experience as a lighting director, designer and manager in both theatrical and broadcast operations. While working for Christian Broadcast Network in Virginia Beach, he designed and managed one of the first complete broadcast studio conversions from conventional lighting to a total LED solution. Read will work closely with Michael Keppler, manager, lighting systems, who will continue to provide design and engineering support

d&b audiotechnik product manager and chairman of the OCA Alliance marketing group, Marc Weber

Prolight+Sound 2015: OCA Alliance exhibits

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - The OCA Alliance is continuing its promotion of the OCA message at this year's Prolight+Sound exhibition, both on the exhibition floor and in the activities of its members at the show. Among exhibiting member companies, d&b audiotechnik is launching its next generation D20 amplifier, a major new OCA enabled product, on booth H8 J46.

The alliance's booth - H8 A11 - features a live demonstration of control and monitoring across networked audio devices from different manufacturers, and will be a point of contact for manufacturers and audio professionals looking for information, or wishing to consult with experts from the OCA Alliance.

Activities to promote the OCA vision of a common remote control standard include the alliance Manufacturers' Reception, at 18:00 on Wednesday 15 April on the Bosch Communications booth H8 A22. Leading technical and product specialists from

Audinate firmware update to support AES67

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Audinate, creator of Dante, has announced the scheduled release of its firmware update that provides support for the AES67 audio networking standard.

AES67 is an interoperability standard created by the Audio Engineering Society, which specifies a baseline set of protocols enabling synchronized audio connectivity between compliant Audio-over-IP solutions. AES67 provides standardized methods for clock synchronization, quality of service and IP transport to bridge between different Audio-over-IP implementations.

The addition of AES67 will allow baseline connectivity between the growing ecosystem of Dante-enabled devices and networked devices from other vendors who support AES67 bridging. Although the AES67 standard covers only the basic sync, QoS and transport of networked audio, systems utilizing Dante networking will retain their enhanced features including simple device

Lunar landing in Mauritius (photo: Simon Fuller)

Robe BMFLs land on the Moon with James Blunt

Details: 14 March 2016

Mauritius - UK singer songwriter James Blunt recently played his first show on Mauritius at the 3500 capacity Swami Vivekananda Centre (SVICC) just outside capital city Port Louis in a show promoted by Music Machine & Immedia. Lighting was co-ordinated by his long term lighting & visuals director, Glen Johnson, and delivered by the country's leading rental and sales company, Impact Production.

Eight Robe BMFLs featured prominently on the rig together with eight MMX Spots, six ColorWash 1200E ATs and 14 LEDWash 600s, plus some beam lights, Molefeys and LED PARs, all making up a festival / B-rig variation of the touring show.

The 15 month Moon Landing world tour is now drawing to a close. Having started in China in December 2013, it's been another major selling album for Blunt and has been supported by his longest and most successful tour to date.

Glen enjoys opportunities lik

The main PA hangs comprise 14 flown Coda ViRAY per side, with three Coda SC2-F bass extension units flown on each side immediately behind the main arrays (photo: Deana Kay)

Coda ViRAY makes sound sense for LPH

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - One of the UK's premier arts and entertainment venues, the Grade II* listed Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (LPH) is in the midst of a £13.8m refurbishment. A significant element has been the UK's first Coda Audio ViRAY installation, which delivers exceptional sound while ensuring the venue's aesthetics are not compromised.

Also the home of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, LPH hosts more than 250 concerts and events of all kinds each year - from classical, opera, folk, rock, pop and roots music to comedy, film, speeches, conferences and private events. So the new audio system had to be exceptionally flexible, but visually not detract from the venue's unique art deco architecture.

Liverpool-based Adlib was invited to tender for the design and supply of the system and the company's installation director Roger Kirby explains why Coda ViRAY was the natural choice

The Johannesburg workshop was aimed at upcoming lighting designers and operators

Liz Berry presents workshop at DWR

Details: 14 March 2016

South Africa - With an estimated 20 visits to the country, international lighting designer Liz Berry is no stranger to South Africa. In fact, she says that when she stepped off the plane recently, it felt like coming home. While her adventures have included trips to Namibia, Botswana, and forming a good friendship with the team at Gearhouse SA and many other South Africans over the years, this stopover was different as Liz presented a lighting workshop at DWR Distribution, aimed at upcoming lighting designers and operators in Johannesburg from 25 to 27 March.

Having a mother who taught French and a father who was a lecturer, it would seem this Berry did not fall far from the bush. She has presented lighting design courses at Rose Bruford College, London's esteemed International Drama School of Theatre and Performance as a result of being a world-renowned LD.

"I met Liz ye

Andy Weingärtner was well known to the industry, especially in his native Germany

Industry pays tribute to Andy Weingärtner

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - With great sadness, Martin Audio has announced the passing of its European account manager, Andy Weingärtner, who died of a heart attack over Easter.

Luke Ireland, managing director of Martin Audio, said, "It was a huge shock to all of us. Andy was always an exuberant member of the team, and even before he joined Martin Audio he was a long term supporter. He will be greatly missed."

With more than 28 years' experience in sales and marketing, covering all aspects of pro audio, Weingärtner was well known to the industry, especially in his native Germany. He is survived by his wife Sandra and their four sons.

A private memorial service will take place on Saturday April 11 in his hometown of Worpswede, and long term friend and colleague Andrew Davies will represent Martin Audio.

Paying tribute, Davies said, "Andy was one of the audio industry's good

Nellie Bell at the Hospital Club in Central London (photo: Fred Larsen)

Sennheiser backs Nellie Bell showcase

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - On Monday 23 March, Sennheiser's newly-formed Strategic Collaborations team, in partnership with Bucks New University and MC9 Music, staged a special event showcasing exciting and emerging new talent Nellie Bell at the Hospital Club in Central London.

The event was organised by Sennheiser's Strategic Collaborations manager - EMEA Phil Cummings and brought together a host of guests from the music and entertainment industries to hear a range of material from Nellie's new album, which is due for release later this year.

Sennheiser e945 microphones were deployed for Nellie's vocal, with her band utilising ew 300G3 in ear monitors. The loudspeaker system comprised a K-array 402 system.

A number of students from the university's Music and Live Event Management course were on hand to help run the event, along with successful alumni from previous years Rob Faull, who is now wor

George Thorogood and his Delaware Destroyers continue to surprise after four decades

Elation lights Thorogood 'Badder Than Ever' tour

Details: 14 March 2016

USA - Elation is once again be lighting American blues rock musician George Thorogood and his Delaware Destroyers band, who continue to surprise after four decades. George Thorogood found chart success in the '80s and continues to tour extensively after 40 years.

Out on a Badder Than Ever spring tour through April, lighting designer William Bennyhoff needed a rig that could complement Thorogood's high-energy boogie-blues style and found it in Elation Platinum Beam 5R Pro, Rayzor Q7 and Cuepix Blinder WW2 fixtures.

"Five years ago we were looking to have an ACL look for our show without having to carry ACL bars," explains Bennyhoff, who works for Toucan Productions of Oklahoma City, provider of lighting, truss and control for the tour. "We looked at all the options out there, which wasn't many, and decided to use the original Platinum Beam 5R."

Last year w

Amadeus worked with French architecture star Jean Nouvel to create the new speakers

Amadeus brings Philharmonia to Frankfurt

Details: 14 March 2016

Germany - Amadeus will unveil its new Philharmonia speakers created for both the professional recording studio as well as home Hi-Fi use at the 2015 Prolight+Sound / Musikmesse tradeshow in Frankfurt. The Company is welcoming attendees to come to Hall 8, Stand G 19 to see and hear the new speakers.

Amadeus, one of the premiere manufacturers of high-end sound reinforcement systems for live and installed sound, as well as a major producer of custom studio speakers for recording studios, worked with French architecture star Jean Nouvel to create the new speakers for their first use in the 5.1 surround studios at the newly opened Philharmonie de Paris, the building was designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel.

Bernard Byk, co-founder and CEO of Amadeus says, "Imagine a reference sound reinforcement system, adapted to the dimension of this architectural gem, with exceptional design, e

LD Shaun Moore designed a lively and dynamic show reminiscent of the band's recent UK tour

Sapphire Touch hands-on control for Frank Turner

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - This month, the Teenage Cancer Trust marked the 15th anniversary of their annual concert series at London's Royal Albert Hall, where leading names in music and comedy come together to raise money to help young people facing cancer. Closing out this year's event, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls headlined at the venue, with LD Shaun Moore trusting the Avolites Sapphire Touch for the occasion.

Moore, of North-East based rental company Nitelites, has been working with Turner for five years. He designed a lively and dynamic show reminiscent of the band's recent UK tour. He used the full house rig, plus additional PRG provided floor cans for drums and keys, which provided some stunning low level key light, matching the front line.

Having operated their consoles since he started lighting, Moore has used Avolites for his entire career to date. "I followed in my family's